The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-11-04


more beauty, 10 tact more tact 70 enthusiasm
Of nature moro enthusiasm When the holy
spirit inpresses the image OF God on the
heart he does not spoil tho canvas. II In ell
the mnltitudes OF young men upon whom re-
ligion has acted you could find one nature
that had been tho least damaged, would
Yield this proposition. You may now have
enough strength Of character TO repel the
various temptations to gross wickedness
which assail you, but do not know In
what strait you may be thrust at some
future time. Nothing short Of the grace Of
the cross may then be able to deliver you
from the lions. You are not ineeker than
Moses, nor holier than David, nor more pa
tent than job, and you ought not TO consider
yourself invulnerable You may have some
weak point OF character that you have never
discovered, and In some hour when you
are assaulted the PhilIstines win be
upon thee, Samson. Trust not in your
good habits, or your early training, or
your pride Of character; nothing short
Of the arm Of Almighty God win be sufficient
10 uphold you. You look forward to the
world sometimes with chilling dependency.
Cheer upi win tell you how you all may
make fortune. Seek first the kingdom Of
God and his Righteousness and all other things
win be added unto YOU know you do not
want to be mean In this matter. Give God
the freshness of your life. You viii not have
the heart TO drink down the trimming cup Of
life and then pour the dregs on Gods
altar. To a Saviour So infinitely generous
you have not the heart to act like
that. That is not brave, that Is not
honorable, that b not manly. Your greatest
want in all the world is anew heart. In Gods
name tell you that And the Blessed Spirit
presses through the solemnities and privi-
leges Of this holy hour. Put the cup Of life
eternal to your thirsty lips. Thrust 1t not
back. Mercy offers 1t, bleeding mercy, long
suffering mercy. Reject all other friend
ships: be ungrateful for all other kindness,
prove recreant to all other bargains, but
despise Gods love for your immortal soul
don't you do that.
would like to see some of you this hour
press out of the ranks Of the world and lay
your conquered spirit at the feet Of Jesus.
This hour is no wandering vagabond stagger-
ing over the earth; 1t is winged messenger
of the skies whispering mercy to thy soul.
Life is smooth now, but after while it may
be rough, wild and precipitate There comes
q crisis In the history of every man. We
seldom understand that turning point until
it Is far past. The road of life is forked and
7 read on two signboards: "This is the way
to happiness 'This is the way to ruin. "
How apt I'VE are to pass the forks Of the road
without thinking whether it comes out at the
door of bliss or the gates Of darkness.
Many years ago stood on the anniversary
platform with minister of Christ who made
this remarkable statement:
"Thirty years ago two young men started
out in the evening to attend the Park theatre,
New York, where play was to be acted in
which the cause of religion was to be placed
in ridiculous and hypocritical light. They
came to the steps. The consciences Of both
smote them. One started to go home, but
returned again to the door, and yet had
not courage to enter, and finally de
parted But the other young man entered
the pit of the theatre. 1t was the
turning point in the history Of those two
young men. The man who entered was
caught in the whirl Of temptation He sank
deeper and deeper in infamy. He was lost.
The other young man was saved, and he now
stands before you to bless God that for TWEEN
ty years he has been permitted to preach the
Gospel
''Rejoice, o young man, in thy youth, and
let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy
youth; but know thou that for all these
things God will bring thee into Judgment"